ABSTRACT The study was carried out in Nada Mariam Monastery from August 2017 to July 2018 to assess ecotourism potentials and local community values towards biodiversity conservation. For this study different data collection techniques were used. In order to assess perception, attitudes and local community values towards biodiversity conservation in the study area questionnaire survey, key informant interview and FGD were conducted. Bird species composition and abundance were collected by using point count in the forest habitat and line transects method in plantation, woodland and farmland habitats during wet and dry seasons to determine the diversity of species. Systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data. Data collected from visitors were coded, entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 22. Shannon diversity index and Simpson’s similarity index were used to analyze bird species diversity and similarity. The finding indicated that most (76.1%) illiterate respondents were unfamiliar with the concept of ecotourism whereas literate respondents were familiar about the concept. About 42% of the respondents did not obtain benefit from ecotourism. A total of 73 avian species those belong to 44 families and 15 orders were recorded in the study area. Among the species recorded, Yellow-fronted parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons) is endemic to Ethiopia. Pallied harrier (Circus macrourus) and white backed vulture (Gyps africanus) are globally considred as near threated species. Moreover, white rumped babbler (Turdoidesleuco cephala), wattled ibis (Bostrychia carunculata) and Abyssinian oriole (Oriolus larvatus) were also among recorded birds endemic to horn of Africa, and Ethiopia and Eritrea respectively. Results revealed that there were variation in avian diversity, and abundance in different habitat and seasons. A total of 59 woody plant species belonging to 38 families were identified in the study area. The most dominant (15.25%) families were Fabaceae followed by Euphorbiaceae, and Myrtaceae. Overall, the ecotourism concept was new in the study area and the local people didn’t get enough benefits from the sector. The overall biodiversity conservation activities or efforts especially wildlife conservation in the study area were low. So the government should give attention in all directions of the ecotourism development and biodiversity conservation in and around monastery areas. Keywords/phrases: Attitude of local community, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecotourism, Monastery